Baysangur Susurkaev targets top-15 opponent after Jorden Santos fight at UFC 328

Baysangur Susurkaev used his UFC 328 media day appearance to make his ambitions clear, stating he intends to pursue a top-15 ranked middleweight opponent once he gets past Jorden Santos this Saturday.

Susurkaev, a Russian middleweight, expressed confidence in his readiness to compete at the elite level and indicated he is eager to climb the rankings quickly with a statement win over Santos. His path to the upper tier of the division will likely require a convincing performance, as recent Tapology metrics have flagged his opposition rating as among the lowest on the UFC 328 card.

One name that has emerged in fan discussion as a potential next step is Roman Dolidze. The Georgian middleweight is currently ranked 12th in the division and carries a professional record of 15 wins and 5 losses. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the 37-year-old stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the cage. Dolidze lands 3.19 significant strikes per minute at 41 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine stylistic test for anyone looking to break into the rankings.

Why it matters

• A win over Santos could legitimately position Susurkaev to request a ranked opponent and gain traction in the middleweight division
• Dolidze sits at No. 12 and represents the kind of gatekeeper fight that would validate or expose a rising contender
• Some fans have raised questions about whether Susurkaev is ready for that level, adding an element of debate to any potential matchup discussion
• The middleweight division remains highly competitive, and ranked wins carry significant weight in the title picture